Freecycle.org

http://www.freecycle.org

The Freecycle Network™ is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free. To sign up, find your community by clicking on the region on the left. You may then go directly to ]your local group by clicking on "Go To" or you may immediately joining by clicking on "Join." It will generate an automatic e-mail which, when sent, will sign you up for the local group and send you a response with instructions on how it works. Can't find a group near you? You might want to consider starting one (click on "Start a Group" for instructions). Have fun!

The Freecycle Network was started in May 2003 to promote waste reduction in Tucson's downtown and help save desert landscape from being taken over by landfills. The Network provides individuals and non-profits an electronic forum to "recycle" unwanted items. One person's trash can truly be another's treasure!

How does it work?

When you want to find a new home for something -- whether it's a chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door -- you simply send an e-mail offering it to members of the local Freecycle group.

Or, maybe you're looking to acquire something yourself. Simply respond to a member's offer, and you just might get it. After that, it's up to the giver to decide who receives the gift and to set up a pickup time for passing on the treasure.

Our main rule: Everything posted must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.

Non-profit organizations also benefit from The Freecycle Network. Post the item or items you want to give away and specify that you wish the gift to go to a nonprofit cause. It's entirely your choice! It's a free cycle of giving. The Freecycle Network is incorporated as a nonprofit organization and is tax-exempt under the IRS 501(c)3 ruling.

Who can use The Freecycle Network?

Think globally, recycle locally. The Freecycle Network is open to all communities and to all individuals who want to participate. Freecycle groups are moderated by local volunteers from across the globe who facilitate each local group - grassroots at its best!

Tell a friend about Freecycle!


It has come to my attention recently that there might be some misconceptions
regarding the Freecycle Network as it affects our little group here. I'd
like to do what I can to weed through some confusion as well as offer
helpful hints to make your Freecycle Network experience a little more
enjoyable.

(For the sake of ease in writing, I shall refer to the Freecycle Network as
simply "Freecycle" here.)

I'd like to cover some "NOT's" about Freecycle first...
- Freecycle is NOT a charity.
- Freecycle is NOT a lending closet.
- Freecycle is NOT a free-for-all.
- Freecycle is NOT a means to get as much free stuff as you can.
- Freecycle is NOT a way to get more stuff to sell, eBay, or auction.
- Freecycle is NOT a way to keep from taking your broken items to the dump
if that's where they really belong.

So what "IS" Freecycle??

- Freecycle IS about keeping things out of the landfill.
- Freecycle IS about sharing an item that retains usefulness.
- Freecycle IS about clearing out our unused clutter.
- Freecycle IS about COMMUNITY.

Freecycle etiquette dictates that a good way to get your feet wet with us all is to begin with an "OFFER"...as I stated, we are NOT a lending closet! If you joined at noon & by 12:15 you've already posted 3 "WANTED's," you do not understand the rules!

EVERYONE has SOMETHING to "OFFER"... Someone within the group might just have a need for all those hangers that are only cluttering up your closet...Someone might need your 11 pair of holey socks for a project they're working on...Someone might be looking for a vintage 1962 harvest gold lamp with teardrop jewels...Post an "OFFER" ~ you just might be surprised!

Now - a few things to keep in mind when you make an "OFFER"...
Do you realize what a Freecycle "OFFER" really is?? It's a gift from you to
someone else! It is up to you; the giver who you choose to give this gift
to! You are not obligated to give this gift to the first person to reply to
you. Giving is not contingent on who is rich, poor, single, married, no
kids, 10 kids, with a car, without a car, or thinks we all should live in a
yellow submarine. You can choose the best reason given, the worst reason
given, the funniest reason given, or the shortest response to receive your
gift. You can put their names on the wall & throw a dart, you can pull out
of a hat, or you can stab your screen to pick a recipient. You can choose
the 1st, 5th, or 79th respondent. You can wait until next Thursday to
decide. It is all up to you!!

Likewise, when you post a "WANTED," or as you respond to an "OFFER," you are requesting someone's gift. We're closing in on 500 members in our Freecycle group. Your odds are roughly 1:499 that you might get what you're asking for. These odds might not get you far in Vegas, but ask for the item anyway! And just like the "OFFER" odds, it doesn't matter at all whether you're
rich, poor, pretty, friendly, single, married, have a car, have no car, can
be there on Tuesday, think the item is neat, or actually do live in a yellow
submarine, YOU ARE NO MORE WORTHY THAN THE NEXT GUY TO GET THIS ITEM!!

A friendly word of advice here....when you send an email that says, "I'll
take your stuff" without a 'please' or 'thank you' or anything else, don't
be surprised if you don't get many items. Telling someone you'll be there at
10AM on Wednesday & never showing up is like buying a one-way ticket to a
brick wall. Being abrupt &/or being a no-show is a good way of getting on a
"Never Give To" list. Remember - it's all up to the giver!

We are a COMMUNITY. That being said, it's understood that within a
community, everyone might not get along every minute of the day. If you find
yourself in a situation where you can no longer tolerate another member,
don't be nasty ~ you can set an inbox filter to deliver that person's
Freecycle emails straight to your trash bin! If you need help setting that
up, I will be more than happy to help you.

To Summarize:

- if you're offering a gift, you are in control of where it goes.

- if you're requesting a gift, be patient, the law of large numbers suggests
you'll get that item sooner or later!

Thank you for your patience!